Нантикок: История и современность города в Пенсильвании

City in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States

The name Nanticoke was derived from Nentego ("tidewater people"), an Algonquian speaking Native American people who moved to the Wyoming Valley when their Chesapeake Bay homelands were spoiled for hunting by the European settlers. For quite some time, the tribe maintained a village in the valley before Europeans settled there. The nearby Nanticoke Creek, also named after the tribe, was once known as Muddy Run. However, its current name was appearing on maps as early as 1776. The creek has also historically been referred to by many other names, including Lee's Creek, Miller's Creek, Robbins Creek, Bobbs Creek, Rummage Creek, and Warrior Run Creek. All of these names were described as erroneous in Henry C. Bradsby's 1893 book History of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. The citizens voted in the fall of 1924 to form a city government; and elections were held the following year. The new city government consisted of a mayor and several councilmen, who took office in January 1926 (which was the official date of becoming a third class city). The first mayor of Nanticoke City was Dan Sakowski.

Samuel H. Kress opened his first store, which grew into the national S. H. Kress & Co. chain, in Nanticoke. The city gained prominence in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as an active anthracite coal mining community, drawing a large portion of its labor force from European immigrants. At its peak, in the 1930s, the city was home to over 27,000 people. However, when the mining industry in the region collapsed, Nanticoke witnessed urban decay and a shrinking population. The collapse of the mining industry also left behind a scarred landscape – abandoned mines, breakers, buildings, and pollution in Nanticoke Creek due to mine drainage. Concrete City, built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad's coal division in 1911, is located near the Hanover Section of Nanticoke. Abandoned since 1924, it was designated as an historic site in 1998, and its remnants still stand as a tourist attraction. The original entrance has since been bulldozed. However, there is an alternate route that does not appear on maps; it can be found at the end of Bliss and Mosier Streets. In 1967, Luzerne County Community College, a two year community college, was established in the city. Today, the main campus covers roughly 167 acres in Nanticoke. The school also maintains eleven satellite learning centers located throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. Nanticoke City officials voted unanimously to apply for Act 47, or economically distressed city status, which was granted by the state in 2006. Nanticoke faced a projected $700,000 deficit that year, with revenues flat and falling far behind expenses.

Nanticoke is located at (41.199514, 75.999119). According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9 km2), of which 3.5 square miles (9 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0 km2), or 3.05%, is water. Nanticoke is located in the Wyoming Valley (near the Susquehanna River). The elevation is 696 feet (212 m). Both the Lower Broadway Street Bridge and the South Cross Valley Expressway cross over the Susquehanna River and connect Nanticoke with Plymouth Township. The topography of Nanticoke is hilly. The city can be divided into several sections: Honey Pot (northwestern Nanticoke), Downtown (northern and central Nanticoke), and Hanover Section (southeastern Nanticoke). Nanticoke Creek and Newport Creek run through the city.

Nanticoke has a hot summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and the hardiness zone is 6a bordering on 6b. Average monthly temperatures range from 26.9 °F in January to 72.6 °F in July.

Nanticoke is served by the Luzerne County Transportation Authority, which provides bus service to the city and other communities within Luzerne County and Lackawanna County.

Rail line service is provided by the Norfolk Southern Railway; the city is situated on the railroad's Sunbury Line (where a small freight yard is located).

The Wilkes Barre/Scranton International Airport is located in Pittston Township. The airport is served by eight international airlines and has hosted Air Force One on regional presidential visits several times in the past. In the spring of 2002, the airport began offering an increased number of non stop flights across the nation. Service is provided by American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and United Airlines. The Wilkes Barre Wyoming Valley Airport is located three miles north of Wilkes Barre. The Hazleton Municipal Airport is located two miles northwest of Hazleton.

Nanticoke City has its own police department and fire department. The police department provides full time protection for its citizens, visitors, businesses, and public property. The fire department consists of a combination of career and volunteer firefighters. It provides a variety of services, including fire extinguishment, rescue, and emergency medical services. The department also provides its citizens with fire safety education and prevention programs.

WQFM 92.1 FM, WSFX FM at 89.1, WVHO 94.5 FM, and WAZL 730 AM are licensed in Nanticoke.